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Ruth Schloss, Israeli, born Germany, 1922-2013.

Ruth Schloss was born in 1922, in Nuremberg, Germany. In 1937 Schloss immigrated to the Land of Israel with her family and settled in K'far Shmaryahu. At the end of the 1930's she studied in the "New Bezalel", Jerusalem and was taught by Mordechai Ardon, among others.
During the 1940's Schloss was active in pioneering kibbutz frameworks of "HaShomer HaTzair". In 1943 she joined Kibbutz Merhavia training, and two years later settled in Lehavot HaBashan.
In 1951 she married Binyamin Cohen. Following a political dispute in 1952 they were forced to leave kibbutz Lehavot HaBashan and moved to her parents' farm in Kfar Shmaryahu, where she resides today. Schloss began painting at the studio she opened in Jaffa (1962-1983).
Her early works were mostly ink drawings and watercolor on paper. These drawings have become her trademark. Her paintings were in the style of Socialist Realism, which flourished at the time among Israeli painters such as Shraga Weil and John Simon, who were influenced by the Socialist and Communist movements worldwide. Schloss also illustrated many children's books and issues of the newspapers "Al HaMishmar" and "Mishmar LeYeladim".
Throughout the years, Schloss adhered to figurative painting and to keeping Man at the center of her work. She never abandoned her unique and humane observations of those who are weaker, oppressed, deprived and discriminated against: children, the elderly, women, refugees and animals.
In recent years (until 2012), she painted large works in acrylic on canvas. Her paintings have become more expressive, but they continue to focus on similar topics: old, blindfolded prisoners and animals with exposed teeth.

Education

1938-41 Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, with Mordecai Ardon.
1946 Painting course for Kibbutz Artzi artists with Yochanan Simon and Marcel Janco.
1949-51 Grande Chaumiere, Paris.

Awards And Prizes

1965 Silver Medal, International exhibition in Leipzig, Germany
1977 Artist-in-Residence, The Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France